The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that any foreign airline passenger that flouts the new revised COVID-19 Provisional Quarantine protocols is liable to pay $3,500 fine.
In addition, any airline that consistently flout the new travel rules, might be outrightly banned from operatiing into the country.
The directive was contained in an All Operators Letter(AOL) with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/16/327 dated December 3rd, 2021, addressed to all accountable managers and signed by the Director-General NCAA.
In the memo, Captain Musa Nuhu, reminded all airlines that protocols for international flight operations and quarantine protocols for travellers arriving Nigeria issued on July 1, 2021still subsists.
He also said: ”Inbound passengers: Airlines are only to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are in possession of a paid permit to travel with a QR Code and a result of a negative COVID-19 test done not later than 48 hours from the time of boarding.
“For any inbound passenger who is unable to either make payment for his/her repeat PCR test(s) or generate a paid permit to travel via the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP), airlines are to send an email to directorporthealthfmoh@gmail.com and copy travelportal@ncc.gov.ng for necessary assistance. For outbound passengers, Airlines are only to board passengers out of Nigeria with evidence of either full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test done at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) accredited laboratories not later than 48hours from time of boarding.
“Non-compliance to these pre-boarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger. Airlines who consistently fail to comply with these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria,” the NCAA boss warned.